Dinner at Aji 53, Japanese restaurant in Brooklyn, New York

I did not know what to expect when I received an invitation from one of the partners of Aji 53, Kevin,  proposing to dine in one of the three restaurants located in Bay Shore (original), Smith Town and Brooklyn. 

Aji means "Taste" and 53 comes from the address of their original location in Bay Shore: 53rd exit and located at number 53. So they made 53 their lucky number. We decided to go to the Brooklyn location for a dinner last Tuesday.

The restaurant in Brooklyn opened last June. Its predecessor was another Japanese restaurant called "Yoshi" that apparently had some issues. When we entered, we immediately saw that it was not a standard Japanese restaurant, but rather a higher version of it. On the right side was the dining room that was split into two parts: one with red booths and the other one with regular seats. 

On the left, the incredible marble bar with its blue lighting, giving a lounge-y feel to the place. 

Then, in the back, the counter where you can sit and watch the Chef prepare sushi and sashimi.

We started off with some drinks, Jodi going for a green tea:

And me, ordering one of their signature cocktails: The Cucumber Cooler:

It was made of Pearl cucumber vodka, Saint Germain, pineapple juice and fresh shredded cucumber.

It was delicious, with a nice cooling effect, but was definitely a dangerous drink, because you could drink that as if it was just some juice...

We started the dinner with appetizers. The first one was Five Way Sashimi:

It was composed of sushi grade tuna in a ponzu sauce:

Striped bass with a Dijon mustard sauce:

Salmon with a truffle sauce (you could definitely smell the truffle when the dish came):

Yellowtail with a Jalapeño and yuzu sauce (that had a nice kick):

Albacore tuna with a ponzu sauce and salmon roe:

First of all, the presentation was fantastic with beautiful colors. The fish were the selection of the day, the Chef shopping on a daily basis at the fish market (closed on Sunday). It was definitely high quality fish, paired with sauces well chosen and not overpowering the fish that remained the star of the dish.

After that, we got the tuna gyoza:

It was made of cooked spicy tuna wrapped in a wonton and deep fried, served with guacamole and an apple sauce. It was an interesting creation, showcasing a fusion that will be present all along the dinner (started anyway in the first course with the jalapeño). I did not really taste the apple sauce, however, the dumpling had a nice crunch and paired perfectly with the guacamole that neutralized in a way the spiciness of the tuna.

The next course was called Ocean River:

 It was raw salmon wrapped around wasabi lobster and avocado, served with a truffle yuzu dressing.

There again, we could smell the truffle and the colors, with a predominent orange, were beautiful. It had a smooth texture and the yuzu added the necessary acidity. However, I was expecting a kick from the wasabi, but it was not the case.

Then came the warm sautéed wild mushroom salad:

The mushroom smell emanating from this dish was incredible and very appetizing. The sauce was simply made of olive oil and truffle purée. There were different kinds of mushrooms, all organic: butternut, shiitake, oyster and beech.

At the same time, they brought us another dish with mushrooms: Kuromame scallop.

It was grilled scallops, served with mushrooms and asparagus, bathed in a delicious black bean miso. The mushrooms and asparagus added a nice texture and there was a nice balance of flavors in this dish that was one of my favorites.

Then came another fusion dish: Beef short ribs.

It is one of their popular dishes. The short rib is marinated in sake overnight, then slow braised for 4 hours before being smothered in a house made BBQ soy sauce. The result, a meat that falls of the bone without the help of a knife.

I liked it, but it was my least favorite, surprising considering that I love short rib and BBQ, The sauce was delicious, not too salty and nicely sweet, but the meat, although tender, had a bit of cartilage.

After that, we tried the rock shrimp tempura:

Rock shrimp are a variety of shrimp that has a hard, spiny shell similar to a lobster. The shell is "hard as a rock", hence the term rock shrimp. This tempura version was crunchy with a nice kick. It was so good, I could not stop eating them!

We then tasted the Chilean Sea Bass, fish that was imported from Japan, marinated in Saikyo miso, then broiled.

It was served on a sweet potato mash. The fish was perfectly cooked, flaky and moist, with a nice caramelization. This was a delicious dish, perfect for fish lovers who only eat cooked fish.

At that point, I started to be really full and Kevin proposed to have some Sake. They have a nice selection there, with tastings graded standard, expert and premium.

Kevin served us the premium tasting:

It was composed, from left to right:

• Sayuri Nigori: Japan's number one selling unfiltered sake. The restaurant describes it as "refreshing aroma, natural sweetness & smooth aftertaste".
• Wakatake Daiginjo: rice milled to 50%. The restaurant describes it as "full body, medium dry and rich, smooth as silk with aromas of pineapple, papaya and roasted nuts".
• Horin Jumai Daiginjo: rice milled to 50%. The restaurant describes it as "delicately fruity nose, well balanced, smooth & clean finish, with a hint of pear".

Not being a connoisseur of Sake, it was great to be able to compare each of them. I sipped the sake for what was unexpectedly coming: a sushi and sashimi sampler!

It looked fantastic and we could not not try this amazing selection! 

It was composed of:

Sushi made of salmon, yellowtail (bon-hamachi) and big eye tuna:

Octopus:

Sashimi made of slices of big eye tuna and yellowtail:

As well as salmon sashimi:

Next to the damon was the fresh wasabi. They serve fresh wasabi because good quality fish deserve good wasabi!

Monster roll (salmon and avocado inside, topped with grilled Alaskan king crab and Louisiana blue crab meat, served with eel and chili sauce:

Okinawa roll (spicy white tuna and blue crab, wrapped with soy bean nori and topped with albacore white tuna and avocado, served with yuzu creme and pineapple chili puree.

The freshness of the fish was again undeniable and the creativity of the rolls sensational, bringing different flavors together perfectly. 

At that point we were really full, but could not resist a dessert...They brought us a home-made mochi ice cream:

One was made of peanut butter and the other one mango. It was the perfect way to finish this incredible meal.

Aji 53 is definitely not your regular Japanese restaurant: it proposes creative dishes, fusion or not, at reasonable prices, made with high quality ingredients. My only regret is that they are not in our neighborhood!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Please note that I was contacted directly by the restaurant or a PR and that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

My nephew culinary visit: day 9: Venezuelan cuisine at El Cocotero in NYC, New York

For his last day in New York, we decided to bring Valentin to try some Venezuelan cuisine, especially arepas. The last time his father came, we brought him to Caracas. As this place is always crowned, we decided to go to the quieter El Cocotero. We went there several times: cheap and good food, fairly low key.

When we entered, at lunch time, the restaurant was very dark, the windows being blocked by Halloween decorations, the sunlight emerging between them. We all ordered the same thing, but decided to share some guacamole, called guasacaca. It never came...I guess the waiter forgot about it and, to be honest, we did not mind as long as they would not try to charge us for it (they did not). I asked for a double espresso and had to ask again, as they probably also forgot about it: it started well!

Fortunately the espresso was good...

Our second appetizer order finally come after a while: yuca fries with guasacaca and cream (Yuca  frita con nata y guasacaca). 

It was good: the yuca fries were crunchy and cooked all the way through, delicious when dipped in the cream and guacamole.

Then, we all ordered the arepa La Chiquinquira, made of guasacaca, Guyanes cheese, avocado and tomatoes.

It was just ok for me: not as good as usual with too much vinegar overpowering the rest of the ingredients.

I was a bit disappointed: the food was just ok and the service was so so, although there were not that many people in the restaurant. I guess next time I'll stick to Caracas...At least, Valentin was able to try arepas!

Enjoy (...)!

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My nephew culinary visit: day 8 / part 2: Hibachi at Ayame in Hoboken, NJ

For his last evening, we brought Valentin to Ayame, a Japanese restaurant in Hoboken that proposes Hibachi. It was for sure for the show, but I admit that their food is delicious. It was a Friday night and the place was packed, full of people enjoying the show of the different Chef's that were serving tables. If you have never eaten in an Hibachi place, the video below will give you a good perspective on how it works!

The Hibachi dinner included a soup:

or a salad, made mainly of iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, carrot and ginger dressing.

I picked the soup that was very light and had few mushrooms with it. It was a good way to get ready for the main dish. Jodi ordered the tofu hibachi that was served with white rice, noodles and veggies.

Valentin and I ordered the chicken and shrimp combo, served with noodles, veggies and, instead of white or brown rice, we decided to order fried rice.

It was very good and we had plenty of food! At least, the shrimp were not tiny and they served quite a bit of it. 

This was a nice last evening for my nephew and he loved the show of the Chef as well as the food!

Enjoy (I did)!

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My nephew culinary visit: day 7 / part 2: Cheesesteak at Shorty's in NYC, New York

One thing that, for sure, we do not have in France is cheesesteak. The first time I tried it was in Philadelphia,  many years back, in a hole in the wall mainly frequented by students; I wish I could remember the location. 

Shorty's was definitely on my list as the cheesesteak we tried at their food truck on Pier 13 in Hoboken was delicious: soft bread shipped from Philadelphia daily and cooked in the truck, tender and juicy meat and lots of cheese (photo below).

So, we arrived at this place and we were totally surprised: we thought it was a restaurant dedicated to this spectacular sandwich, but it is in fact a bar! So, for sure, it was not the best place to have a conversation and relax...

We ordered the cheesesteak sandwich with provolone and Valentin added some onions. As it was big and we had lot of food that week, we decided to share with Jodi. It came all wrapped up and we delicately uncovered it.

At that point, we were a bit disappointed: there was more bread than meat and the quantity of the latter were close to half what we had at the truck. It was good, tender and juicy, but there was not enough cheese and the proportion bread / meat was at the advantage of the bread.

With the cheesesteak, we also ordered some fries that were good, crunchy and not greasy.

Valentin liked it, but I wish we had a better cheesesteak: I guess that for Shorty's, we will just stick to the truck next time...

Enjoy (...)!



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My nephew culinary visit: day 7 / part 1: Indian food at The Masala Wala in NYC, New York

Talking with Valentin, I was not sure he ever had some good Indian food before. So I picked The Masala Wala: good food and reasonable prices, especially with their lunch special. I discovered this restaurant back in August and promised Jodi that we would go there to try some street food, as they serve some amazing dishes there.

We sat in the bright dining room dominated by the gold coin representing one of the owners, Satyen Mazumdar, and decorated with paintings representing street scenes in India.

We decided to share the different dishes we ordered and started off with the Dahi Puri, these little semolina puffs filled with spiced potatoes, chickpeas, tamarind, mint and yogurt. 

These one bite puffs are very good and extremely refreshing, thanks to the mint and yogurt.

Then we shared a vegetarian samosa and some veggie pakora that are sort of fritters.

The samosa was delicious, filled with spiced potatoes and peas that added a nice texture, on top of the crispiness of the shell. The pakora were good, slightly greasy, but crispy and kind of comforting.

Then we had one of my favorite Indian dishes: chicken tikka masala that Valentin ordered.

I love the color of the sauce and its creaminess. At that point, I did not really care about the chicken and could have eaten the sauce without it. It had a slight kick that was perfect.

Jodi ordered the Shahi paneer (pressed Indian cottage cheese cooked in a rich cashew-almond cream sauce). In fact, it is not on the menu, but as I mentioned that I tried it last time and could not find it on the menu, they proposed to make it especially for us: that was very nice!

And the three of us were so happy! They should definitely have this on the menu: although a bit spicy, the sauce was heavenly creamy with a smooth taste.

We ate these dishes with some white rice:

And some Naan bread (we picked the Naan basket, my favorite being the butter one):

On my side, I ordered the chicken tikka, cooked in the tandoor oven:

It was good, but I found the chicken a bit dry and did not like the rice that was served with it.

Valentin and I ordered a mango lassi, that is a meal in itself and was perfect to counteract the spiciness of the dishes. 

This was a delicious meal and The Masala Wala is a great place for some good Indian food!

Enjoy (I did)!


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My nephew culinary visit: day 6: Cuban cuisine at La Isla in Hoboken, NJ

La Isla is a great Cuban restaurant in Hoboken: cheap with great cuisine. So we were thrilled to bring Valentin to that place for what would be another discovery.

We sat at a table, more convenient than the bar to share dishes when more than two people. The service was very quick and we got some very good comforting food.

We started off with beef empanadas, a must have.

The crust is flaky and a bit crispy, and the inside, made with beef and some tomatoes, moist and slightly salty.

We also had maduros, that are fried plantains:

Tostones (smashed plantains twice fried):

Black beans:

And yellow rice with pigeon peas:

The portions were enough for the three of us. I love to eat all the dishes together, sometimes eating some empanada with rice and beans or maduros with beans, using tostones like I would a piece of bread.

The food was, as usual, delicious! La Isla is really a great Cuban restaurant if you are in Hoboken.

Enjoy (I did)!

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My nephew culinary visit: day 5 / part 2: Dinner at Morimoto in NYC, New York

On Tuesday night, we decided to go to Chef Morimoto's eponym restaurant as we really wanted Valentin to try some outstanding Japanese food. I suggested to him not to have sushi or sashimi because he would end up with probably some great seafood, but he would not experience what made Chef Morimoto famous.

I love that place: modern decor with a dining room overlooking the kitchen where you can see the Chefs preparing the scrumptious food.

We were ready for a feast, our chopsticks out for what would be another memorable dinner in this establishment.

We started off with some appetizers that we shared. First was the Yu-burrata, the Chef's version of burrata, served with heirloom tomatoes, berries, cucumbers, with a sauce made with wasabi and sherry vinegar.

The burrata itself was made with tofu skin. It was a fantastic dish: very fresh, the burrata was heavenly creamy and paired perfectly with the acidity of the tomatoes and cherry vinegar.

The second appetizer was the sautéed foie gras & grilled eel:

That was a succulent dish where the smooth texture of the foie gras complemented well the texture of the eel, rendering a nice version of surf & turf. It was served with some Asian pears for sweetness and sake Meyer lemon for acidity.

The third appetizer was the pork gyoza:

You would never think that it was pork gyoza there, but in fact, the six gyoza were under the crispy shell.

It was sitting on a bacon foam (I admit that I barely tasted the bacon), some tomatoes and the shell was nicely cooked and soft. 

Then came the entrees. This time we did not share...Jodi ordered the Ishi Yaki Buri Bop, similar to a Korean Bibimbap, it was yellowtail on rice cooked in a stone bowl.

It came with a raw egg and the waiter mixed the ingredients together. Et voila!

The fish was very good, flavorful and moist. The rice sat and cooked against the very hot bowl until forming a delicious crust.

I suggested Valentin to try the surf & turf that I tried the last time we went.

The fish was Hamachi cut in ribbons, mixed with crushed citrus and avocado, prepared tableside.

The turf side was Wagyu beef, perfectly cooked medium rare, with a nice char on the outside:

The side was herbed potatoes:

On my side, I decided to order the seafood "toban yaki", a sort of fish stew made with lobster, king crab, mussels, clams and diver scallops. The broth was made of red miso, butter and lobster. It was served with rice.

It was a succulent dish, packed in flavors and perfect if you are a seafood lover. The best part was definitely the broth that was fantastic with a nice bold flavor.

Of course, we could not leave without dessert! We first picked the Warm chocolate cake:

It was served with a blood orange-sake sherbet and truffle honey, that was fantastic. The inside of the chocolate cake was deliciously runny and a bit addictive, perfectly paired with the orange sherbet.

The second dessert was the mori-monkey bread, Chef Morimoto's version of monkey bread:

It was made of cookies similar to vanilla wafers, banana cream and chocolate. My favorite though was the banana chocolate chip ice cream, that was very creamy and tasty.

This was a fantastic dinner and for me, Morimoto is by far the best Japanese fine dining restaurant, far beyond Nobu!

Enjoy (I did)!

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My nephew culinary visit: day 5 / part 1: Tacombi at Fonda Nolita in NYC, New York

Interestingly, Valentin told us that the only tacos place they have where he lives is a Middle Eastern version rather than Mexican! So, we decided to bring him to a restaurant serving tacos and ended up at Tacombi at Fonda Nolita on the Lower East Side. 

It is a very interesting place: when you enter, it is as if you were on the side of a road, with a small van in the middle where they make tacos! 

Looking carefully inside the van, you can see the Chef works his magic:

On the right when you enter, they have a small cafe, for take out:

The name Tacombi is in fact the contraction of Tacos and Combi, the latter being the van that is used as a taxi in Mexico. 

Our waiter was nice and efficient, but the food took some time to come. We started off with guacamole and chips. 

It was freshly and perfectly made, but I was surprised by the small quantity for close to $12. 

Then, we all got different tacos. Jodi ordered the veggie one that was mainly made with mushrooms.

It was good, especially if you like mushrooms as it was the predominant taste, overpowering the cilantro, onions or what seemed to be kale. 

Valentin ordered their special taco as well as the crispy fish and chicken mole. On my side, I ordered three different tacos (they advice to eat three to be full and they were right). 

The first one was barbacoa that is beef brisket. 

It was a bit dry and I added some chipotle sauce to it, that added some spiciness to the dish. 

The second one was pork belly, that had more flavor. 

It had, besides pork belly, radicchio and fried pig skin.

The third one was crispy fish that was my favorite, but a bit messy to eat. I had to eat it with a knife and fork...it was served with a spicy mayo (for a nice kick) and some cabbage to give some additional crunch. 

We also shared rice and beans, that was good but the beans were a bit dry.

With the meal, we ordered some Mexican soda: pineapple (sparkling) and lime. 

The soda were very good and I wish I could find them at the Supermarket. 

Tacombi was very good and I would just go for the unique decor. However, I found it a bit pricey...

Enjoy (I did)!

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My nephew culinary visit: day 4 / part 2: Luke's Lobster in NYC, New York

So, after Katz's and the Doughnut Plant, we wanted to eat light (!) and went to the original location of Luke's Lobster, one of my favorites for Lobster rolls. I was very excited because it was a first for Valentin. In France, lobster is still considered a luxurious ingredient that you will mainly find in expensive restaurants, although few spots in Paris have been trying to impose this delicious lobster sandwich. 

The place is very small, with a tiny kitchen and a decor that is all about fishing, and we got lucky to find a spot to seat. 

We decided to go for their lobster roll, too full to try their trio (shrimp roll, crab roll and lobster roll).

We got served fairly quickly. There was a lot of lobster and there was a buttery smell emanating from the sandwich. It was fantastic! I clearly prefer a lobster roll served this way, not smothered in mayonnaise. 

With The Red Hook Lobster Pound, Luke's Lobster is my favorite spot for Lobster rolls in NYC! 

Enjoy (I did)!

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My nephew culinary visit: day 4 / part 1: Katz's Deli in NYC, New York

I have never been a big fan of Katz's before, preferring Junior's for a better dining experience (and their cheesecake). But as Valentin never tried a deli, I proposed to go there and give it another chance, as this place remains an icon in New York 

We arrived around 1pm, received our tickets (not to be forgotten otherwise you pay the high price), and the place was packed. Not surprising though as it is in all the guides and it is not uncommon to see buses full of tourists make a stop there. 

At Katz's, you have two choices: wait for a table with full service or order some food at the counter, where you can observe (briefly) the staff preparing food and then, find a table to sit. 

We went for a waited table and probably waited 15 minutes before being seated. strangely, our waiter was nice...

We decided to order several dishes to share, after eating the traditional pickles they put on the table:

The Matzo ball soup:

The matzo ball was good, light and spongey, but the broth was just ok: I prefer the one at Junior's or 2nd Avenue Deli. 

Potato pancakes:

Served with apple sauce and sour cream. They were deliciously crispy and not too greasy. 

Pastrami Reuben:

It was served with sauerkraut, cheese and Russian dressing. The meat was literally melting in our mouth. I loved it, but it is clearly a heavy sandwich. 

Salami sandwich:

We picked the soft salami; they were very generous with the amount of salami for sure and it was delicious with mustard. 

The last dish was hot dog, ordered with sauerkraut:

It was a very good hot dog, the sausage having a nice texture and spices. 

We had a pleasant time at Katz's...surprisingly! The food was good and, for the first time, we got good service! So I guess I changed my mind about this place...

Enjoy (I did)!

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My nephew culinary visit: day 3 / part 2: Kambi Ramen House in the East Village, NYC, New York

We decided to bring my nephew Valentin to a ramen place and picked Kambi Ramen; not that we already went there, but I heard they serve good food. Well, Kambi means "perfection" in Japanese, so it was the perfect occasion to see if their were perfect!

The story of this place is interesting: the owner, Shigeto Kamada, a Japanese musician living in NYC, was disappointed with ramen noodles in the City and decided to open his own restaurant, after learning the secrets of cooking these dishes!

When we arrived (a Sunday night at 8:30pm), the place was packed. It is small anyway, but still, it was very crowded, from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. So, we gladly accepted their offer to sit at the bar. It was the perfect spot to see the kitchen, where the cooks were preparing dishes flawlessly, cooking in concert with no need to talk to each other.

They have different kinds of noodles that seemed to be fresh, although pre-packed. 

They propose noodles from thin to thick and you can choose which one you want when you order your ramen.

We decided to start with some appetizers. I admit that I was a bit disappointed that they did not have the pork buns, one of my favorite appetizers in this type of places! So we ordered gyoza, thin dumplings that are either proposed fried or steamed. I prefer fried because I love the char it creates!

We went for the pork gyoza (photo above) and the shrimp gyoza.

Both were delicious: thin shell, perfectly cooked, with one side soft and the other one, deliciously burnt, a bit crunchier. They were both tasty, but my favorite was the shrimp one, probably one of the best I had so far. Why? Because, there was a whole shrimp in it, so you could really taste it!

Then, Valentin and I decided to order the Kambi ramen, made with a pork and chicken broth.

The broth was flavored with soy sauce, probably giving this darker color and fortunately not too salty. It was served with an egg (half - fully cooked), vegetables and some sliced stewed pork that was melting in my mouth. We decided to go with the thin noodles that were perfectly cooked and brought us to a heaven of slurpiness. 

Jodi ordered the Shoyu, that was similar, but the broth base was only pork.

It was good too and the broth was quite similar, maybe with a less strong taste than the other one.

It was very good and we finished full! These ramen dishes were packed in flavors and perfect for this weather!

Enjoy (I did)!

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My nephew culinary visit: day 3 / part 1: 67 Burger in Brooklyn, New York

On Sunday, we went back to Brooklyn for some shopping and ended up at 67 Burger, a burger place located at 67 Lafayette street in Fort Greene. I remembered this restaurant because we went there few years ago, for my first immersion in Brooklyn.

Similar to lots of burger places, you can either order from their menu or build your own burger. Then, once you order, they give you a number and will bring your food at your table.

Our food came fairly quickly. As Valentin likes blue cheese, we ordered the Western burger, made with BBQ onions and blue cheese, cooked medium.

We also ordered a cheeseburger with Cheddar:

Jodi built her own and went for a veggie burger with avocado and goat cheese (great that they were proposing goat cheese as a choice: it is pretty rare).

All the burgers were good and juicy. I preferred the Western over the cheeseburger because it had more flavor. Jodi's veggie burger was also good and perfect with avocado and goat cheese.

For sides, we shared some fries that were cooked skin on:

And some onion rings:

I preferred the onion rings that were missing a bit if salt though, but were not that greasy, over the fries that I prefer crispier.

It was good although I would not go specifically for their burger, but if you are in that area, it is a good spot.

Enjoy (I did)!

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My nephew culinary visit: day 2 / part 2 - John's pizzeria in Times Square, NYC, New York

That time, we wanted Valentin to try a good pizza. Not that where he lives there is none. In fact there is a large Italian community and lots of pizzerias. So, we decided to bring him to John's Pizzeria in Times Square. For the pizza, but mainly for the decor as this place, that opened in 1997, used to be the Gospel Tabernacle Church. 

The decor is fantastic, especially the ceiling that was kept untouched. It is also a huge place, supposed to be the largest pizzeria in the US.

The place was packed (it was Saturday night around 8:30pm) and they sat us in one of the dark adjacent rooms. We decided to start with some chicken wings:

They were served with blue cheese sauce, full of blue cheese chunks, and celery. They were delicious, but I would have liked a little bit of kick to it. 

Then, we ordered two pizzas, small size that is six slices:

The top one was the pizza bianca, made with ricotta and mozzarella cheese (no tomato sauce).

And the bottom one was the traditional, simply mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce:

The crust was good, crispy and not floppy, with a nice char. My favorite was the pizza bianca that fortunately did not have garlic. I also appreciated that both pizza had lots of cheese.

We had a great time at John's Pizzeria. However, I would go there for the decor rather than the pizza where I would go to Luzzo's or Motorino. Last, I have to mention that the service was not that great; but I guess it is the price to pay when dining in Times Square...

Enjoy (I did)!

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My nephew culinary visit: day 1 - steaks at Dino & Harry's in Hoboken, NJ

My brother and sister-in-law sent us for a week my nephew Valentin who turned 16 years old this year. We were all very excited to have him here and made it a culinary experience for two reasons: Valentin loves and appreciates food, and also because, where he lives, there is not as much diversity as in New York. So we skipped French restaurants and went for typical American as well as ethnic cuisine. First stop was at Dino & Harry's in Hoboken: you cannot come to this country without trying a steak!

I love this steakhouse that I consider one of the best: good quality of meat and they definitely know how to cook perfectly a steak.

So, while we were waiting for our steaks, we ate some delicious focaccia bread and breadsticks with some olive oil, catching up on the news from the family. 

Of course, Jodi ordered her favorite: petite filet mignon, perfectly cooked medium and served with mushrooms.

Delicious as usual, the meat was very tender and juicy.

Valentin and I shared the porterhouse for two:

It was a big piece of meat, where the strip loin (right) was separated by a T-shape bone from the tenderloin (left). We ordered it medium-rare and it was, again, perfectly cooked. The meat was tender, juicy, with a nice char on the outside. 

We ate it with some delicious béarnaise sauce:

For sides, we went for Mac & Cheese:

I was so happy to see that on the menu: it goes so well with a steak! It was nice and creamy.

We also shared the creamed spinach:

When I think that when I was a kid, I did not really like spinach! These were fantastic, probably because of the cream though...At least I could say that I had my share of greens that day...

Of course we could not leave without any dessert...Valentin tried the Snowboken, made of vanilla ice cream, chocolate fudge, marshmallow, crumbled Oreo cookies and shaved coconut.

On my side, I ordered the pear and almond tart:

It was served with a cinnamon ice cream that complemented well the tart. However, I was a bit disappointed by the almond part of it: not enough!

It was a good start for this visit, Dino & Harry's being a great place, and Valentin was amazed by the steak he just ate! It would for sure only be the beginning...

Enjoy (I did)!

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Maison, French Brasserie located Midtown, NYC, New York

Maison is a brasserie located Midtown that is opened 24/7. Its decor is really impressive, between the high ceilings and the giant old ads. The place is of medium size, benefiting from the outside area that is perfect on a warm day.

It has ben a while I did not go there: at least since I started this blog! The last time was with our friends Diana and Peter, for brunch, and I had a succulent duck confit crepe that is not anymore on the menu.

We went for brunch and did not start that well as they kind of forgot us...The manager came and apologized, offering us some drinks; I just went for coffee (sorry, no bellini)! But we thought the service would be better once they realized we were there, unfortunately, it was not the case: it was the poorest service we had in a long time! And it was so unusual for that place.

Concerning the menu, you will find lots of basic dishes you would find in brasseries, although the restaurant features mainly specialties from Brittany, such as crepes, as well as standard brunch dishes such as eggs Benedict.

Jodi decided to try their Croque Monsieur, made with ham and beer marinated Swiss cheese:

When ordering, they ask you if you want fries or the mixed salad. She picked the salad. The presentation was wonderfully rustic and appetizing! And the croque monsieur was delicious! The bread was soft and there was a lot of cheese.

On my side, I ordered the smoked ham and gruyere cheese crepe with a fried egg on top:

Similar to Jodi, I had choice between fries or salad: I picked salad. The crepe itself was just ok: too thin, you could barely taste it! However, there were a lot of ham and cheese and I loved the fact that the fried egg was cooked over easy, so I could dip the crepe in the runny yolk!

And it is only few seconds before our dishes came that they asked us if we wanted some bread with some sort of pepper butter and olive oil!!!

Despite the service, it was a good brunch and we will probably go back. This time, hopefully, it will be a more enjoyable experience!

Enjoy (I did)!

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The burger at DB Bistro Modern in NYC, New York

DB Bistro Modern in NYC, New York

I could not resist to go to DB Bistro Modern to try their burger, The Original DB Burger! Yes, you can skip the menu and bring it to me! You are probably wondering what this burger is; it is a sirloin burger filled with short ribs, foie gras and black truffle! Of course, it is pricey and some may say that they would never pay $32 for a burger, but they would for a steak frites though and, considering the ingredients, the price might just be right. 

DB Bistro Modern in NYC, New York

So, here we are, at DB Bistro Modern! The place is...modern, with a nice balance between the dark wood and red leather that is also present on the walls. It definitely gives a warmth and elegance to the place. I loved the black and white photos that were covering one of the walls: simply beautiful!

coffee at DB Bistro Modern in NYC, New York

It took a while for somebody to take care of us, whether it was to bring us the menus or just water. I guess there were under staffed and our waiter was clearly overwhelmed, apologetic each time he was checking on us. Would that be a repeat of what happened at DBGB? Looked like it! 

sugar at DB Bistro Modern in NYC, New York

Fortunately my coffee did not take too long!

bread at DB Bistro Modern in NYC, New York

As well as some fresh bread, similar to pain de campagne.

bread and butter at DB Bistro Modern in NYC, New York

Our food took a bit if time to come...and it even came earlier than the table next to us that ordered 5 minutes before! Jodi got her Croque Monsieur, served with a salad.

croque monsieur at DB Bistro Modern in NYC, New York

It was made with Swiss cheese and there was a lot of ham. Unfortunately, the bread in the bottom was very hard to cut through because overcooked. Too bad, because otherwise it would have been a great one!

Then was my burger! It looked fantastic! The meat patty was huge (a bit difficult to eat...), and was resting on a Parmesan bun, with a tomato confit in the bottom and some red onions on top for a bit of crunch. 

burger at DB Bistro Modern in NYC, New York

It was conveniently cut in half, revealing a piece if foie gras. I ordered it medium cooked and it was perfect: flavorful and juicy, the taste of the short rib definitely went through. In fact, you could see the short rib meat in the patty. 

burger at DB Bistro Modern in NYC, New York

The first bite was divine: you could definitely taste the sirloin, then the short rib and finally the foie gras (when biting in the center). However, I did not smell or taste any black truffle, making me wonder if there was really some in it. 

Let's not forget the fries that were very good and served with mustard, ketchup and a delicious homemade mayonnaise. 

It was good, but for me, if I want to go eat a fancier burger, I will pick the one in the tap room at Colicchio & Son's!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Zafra's in Hoboken, NJ

The last time I went to Zafra's was in March this year. We went there few times before, but that time, it was to drink their hot chocolate with machica that was ranked number 15 of the best hot chocolate in the US! We tried it and it was delicious, however, we were out of luck because their fryer was not working and they could not prepare some of the dishes we wanted to order. 

So we decided to go back for a Sunday brunch! The place was crowded: normal, considering it is a very popular restaurant in Hoboken!

I love this colorful tiny place, that serves some delicious Cuban and Latin food crafted by Chef Maricel Presilla!

Of course, we started off with the hot chocolate:

It was fantastic! Not too sweet, it had this fantastic flavor that emanated from the cinnamon.

Then, we decided to start with arepitas con queso, small arepas with cheese:

We got three of them, served with creme fraiche and salsa. It was very good: I love the taste and texture of the corn flower. The cheese was probably queso blanco. It was a great, inexpensive appetizer, perfect for sharing.

Then, Jodi ordered the Carimañolas con Huevos or Yuca Cheese Croquettes with two fried eggs:

It was served with pressed buttered Cuban bread that was delicious. It was an ok dish: the croquettes were a bit dough-y.

On my side, I ordered the Tortilla de Huevos y Maduros  or egg and ripe plantain omelet:

It was served with the same Cuban bread. I liked it, but would have liked a bit of cheese or cream to jazz up the dish a bit. However, the omelet was perfectly made.

We were hesitating to get dessert, when they brought us their tres leches, complimentary, because we accepted to switch tables to accommodate a large party.

It was a nice gesture that we could not refuse! And trust me: we would have been crazy to refuse! It was delicious!

It had this thick layer of meringue on top that was flambéed, and then, in the bottom, was the sponge cake that was drowned in the milk mix. This was fantastic: tasty and not sweet at all! Needless to say we finished it!

I will definitely go back there to try some other dishes. If you do go to Zafra's, I suggest the hot chocolate and the tres leches cake!

Enjoy (I did)!    

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Umami Shoppu in the West Village, NYC, New York

How could I miss a place like Umami Shoppu located few blocks from Union Square? Cheap and good food is always something I appreciate: you do not need to pay big bucks to eat well and this is another good example of that. I know: I usually finish my blog post with what I think about a place and starts rarely with my opinion. But sometimes, I just feel like it!

It is not a big place, but it can accommodate a nice number of customers. In the back is the sushi bar, where you can observe the Chef preparing sushi and rolls.

We went few times and here are some of the dishes we tried:

Umami pork buns:

There are two of them and I wished they were four! They were heavenly good: the delicious pork was smothered in hoisin sauce, giving some nice sweetness, while the cucumber added some crispiness.

We also tried the Roti pancake:

I love that dish: yes it can be greasy, but it is so good in that curry sauce, that is more Indian / Thai - adopted - than Japanese.

I also tried the fried squid, served with a chili sauce:

It was not greasy, crunchy and the squid was not rubbery. I loved the mix between the saltiness of the fried squid and the sweetness of the chili sauce that was not spicy at all.

Another dish I tried was the yakitory, those Japanese skewers that I discovered at Bambootori.

I decided to try three of them: chicken, beef and pork belly. All of them were fantastic: delicious, with a nice char taste, they were tender and smothered in a sauce made with hoisin, molasses, mirin (sake rice), sake and sesame.

Then, we tried the ramen! They propose four soup bases:

• Tonkotsu (pork bone)
• Miso (soy bean paste)
• Shoyu (soy sauce)
• curry (curry pork bone)

All ramen are made with bamboo shoot, bean sprout, scallions, flavored egg and nori (seaweed).

So I tried their Chasiu ramen (sliced pork):

First of all, they are generous with the amount of pork and, for $9.50, it is a very good deal! The broth, pork bone based (Tonkotsu) was delicious, milky and not salty, with a subtle taste, letting the different components in the bowl shine.

The next two ramen we tried are interesting because they are unusual! The first one was the fried chicken ramen with soy sauce soup base (Shoyu). 

They bring you the soup on one side and the chicken in a separate dish.

You can then either eat them separately or together, as I did, dipping the crispy pieces of chicken in the broth where lettuce was added. It was surprisingly good, except maybe that there was a lot of garlic. 

The other unique ramen was the wonton ramen with shoyu soup base (soy sauce):

This was interesting because wonton are Chinese and not Japanese! In fact, we met with one of the owners who is Chinese and he is the one who got this fantastic idea! Again, they were very generous with the number of wonton!

And trust me: these wonton were very good! Needless to say that Jodi ordered this dish each time we went!!! Concerning the soup, it was delicious: milky and not salty although with soy sauce.

This is definitely a place I will keep in my address book: the food is very good, not expensive and the service courteous and efficient.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Surprising food at Toloache in NYC, New York

I am not sure what I was expecting when I went to Toloache with my colleagues; probably simply Mexican food...Well, let say that it went beyond my expectations as you will discover in this post!

This two floor restaurant is very colorful, with paintings representing the Toloache also called Datura Innoxia, a flower used to make love potions, but also in Mexican witchcraft for darker purposes...

On the first floor is the bar, with its impressive choice of tequila, but where they also make fresh guacamole!

The menu, crafted by Chef Julian Medina is not as standard as you may think. Yes, they have tacos and quesadillas, but he made them his own. And for sure, if there was something I was not expecting to see, it was grasshoppers! Yes, you read it correctly: grasshoppers, or chapulines. Apparently it is a common ingredient in some parts of Mexico. There, they serve it in a taco. 

I have never tried grasshopper or any type of insect, at least willingly I guess. And I did not want to order the tacos just for that, as, if I did not like it, it would have been a waste of money. So, I asked our waitress wether it was possible to try some and she came back with a small ramequin full of them.

They are dried grasshoppers that they pan sear. We ate them like we would eat peanuts, putting everything in our mouth. It was crunchy outside and creamy inside, with a strong taste that had some hint of lime. It was good, but not to the point I would replace peanuts with it...

Then, it was time to eat some more usual things! We started off with guacamole. They make it fresh and propose a sampler of the three different kinds they serve:

Traditional (mild):

Simply made with avocado, cilantro, tomatoes, onion and serrano pepper.

Frutas (medium):

This was an interesting one, made with avocado, tomato, onion, Thai basil, habanero, pomegranate, mango, apple and peach.

It was deliciously sweet and I loved the fact that the pomegranate was not smashed, adding a nice texture and tartness to the dish.

The last one was Rojo (spicy):

It was made with avocado, tomatoes, red onion, chipotle and queso fresco. It was a bit spicy, but delicious. In fact, all of the guacamole was very good, perfectly seasoned, made with ripe avocado.

Then I tried the Tacos de Lechon:

It was made of suckling pig carnitas, chicharron (fried pork rinds), cactus salad and salsa verde.

I also tried the Tacos Costilla & Tuetano:

It was composed of beef short ribs, bone marrow, roasted red onions, jalapeños and Thai basil.

Both tacos where served with rice and beans. It was pretty good, but I admit that my favorite one was the short ribs and bone marrow that had bolder flavors, although the one with the suckling pig was interesting, with a bit of crunch coming from the fried pork rinds.

I will definitely go back to Toloache: the food was good and prices were reasonable. But this time, I will probably not eat grasshoppers...Or maybe I will!

Enjoy (I did)!

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Brunch at The Smith in NYC, New York

We were looking for a place to have brunch before going to the Moma for the Magritte exhibit, and ended up at The Smith, on the Upper West Side. We reserved of course as each time we passed by the place, it was packed. Good move I would say! Yes, it was fairly crowded, outside and inside, and people kept coming in! 

I like the place: bright, it has an interesting decor, like a modern brasserie, but with some retro elements. This place is owned and operated by Jeffrey Lefcourt and Glenn Harris who also own and operate Jane on West Houston Street (always packed too!). 

As we sat, they brought us some bread (baguette), butter, as well as tap and sparkling water. I admit that it is the first time they brought free sparkling water in a restaurant!

So, we first ordered some beverages. Jodi got herself a tea from Steven...Smith (not sure if it was on purpose...). 

I ordered a double espresso. Good, but $7 was a bit pricey! Was there gold in it???

Then, our first appetizer came: hot potato chips with blue cheese fondue. 

We could not resist ordering it! Chips and blue cheese pair so well! But we did not foresee that it would be so big! For sure, they were not cheap on the blue cheese either and it was a fantastic start! It is definitely a dish I recommend!

Then, Jodi ordered the ranchero scramble, their take on Huevos rancheros.

It was served with chipotle salsa, black beans, cheddar and avocado, on top of tortilla. It was ok for me: I prefer when the yolk is runny, mixing up with the salsa and the black beans. Theirs was a bit dry for my taste. 

On my side, I ordered the vanilla bean French toast. 

Presentation wise, the bananas did not look that appetizing. I also found them cooked uneven. However, the bread itself was delicious! Well soaked in the batter, it was thick and the vanilla taste came through. I also appreciated the fact that they served it with good maple syrup, not too sweet. 

At the end, we were stuffed and, even if I did not like everything, I would certainly go back to try some other dishes of their mouth watering menu! Maybe the burger or the lobster roll next time!

Enjoy (I did)!

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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!